Peet’s Coffee latest in foreign F&B brands wooing India

India is fast emerging as a hub for international food and beverage (F&B) brands, driven by rising affluence, a young aspirational consumer base, and delivery platforms like Zomato and Swiggy that lower operating costs.

- Mansi Verma & Priyamvada C.

Rising affluence and a young consumer base and delivery platforms are driving international chains to explore India.

US-based Peet's Coffee is the latest chain exploring an India foray, and is seeking franchise partners, a person in the know said. The company is in talks with a big real estate advisory firm, this person added. Peet's did not respond to Mint’s request for a comment on Friday.

Peet’s joins a growing list of foreign quick service restaurant (QSR) chains such as US-based soft serve inventor Carvel and pizza brand Papa John’s, Malaysia’s TeaLive and France’s Bagelstein, that are either mulling or have already entered the country in the past 6-12 months. The pipeline is only increasing with several more in conversations with a growing league of franchise partners in India,

Industry experts and executives told Mint.